Replacing my hardrive

Factual Questions
1

I have a six year old computer with a 20 GB hard drive that I’d like to replace with a bigger one and partition it so I can play with Linux and get the hang of using it, while still being able to keep Windows XP. I’m not all that computer savvy, so I have a few questions:

My PC originally came with Windows ME and I have since upgraded to Windows XP. If I buy a new hard drive, will I be able to start from scratch and install Windows ME even though my PC came with only a recovery disc? If not, how do I get Windows back on my PC?

I don’t mind starting from scratch and reinstalling all of the programs I have on my PC now, but I don’t want to lose all of my emails I have saved in Outlook Express over the years. What’s the best way to get OE with all of my emails on the new hard drive? Thanks.

2

Keep the original hard drive if you are happy with it, just add the second hard drive on the second IDE channel. Linux will be quite happy residing anywhere on the system. I have XP on a 40 Gig drive, partitioned into two - OS & Data, then Ubuntu on the slave drive, an old 13 Gig that it is perfectly happy with it.

I did have an 100Gig drive sliced up a bit and XP/Ubuntu both on the same drive but it died a while back, that machine just has Ubuntu on a 250 Gig drive.

One thing you may have problems with is installing large drives on older machines, sometimes the BIOS can’t cope with them. I haven’t personally encountered this problem but have been warned about it when buying drives. You should be OK with something around 80 Gig though.

3

I second Myglaren’s recommendation. Just add a 2nd drive and install linux on it.

If you wish to go the route of completely replacing the drive, then there’s no need to install ME first. You will want to install XP first, then linux, not the other way around. Install XP and leave all of the space for linux unpartitioned. Linux will set up its own partitions when it installs.

To get all of your emails from one drive to the other, first export all of your emails to a file. If you have a memory stick or something to put this file on, then you can just transfer the file to the new drive this way. Otherwise, you can temporarily install the old drive as a slave and grab the file off of it. Import this file into outlook and you’ll be set.

Double check the BIOS before you get started. On a machine that old you are likely to run into the BIOS issue that Myglaren mentioned.

4

[QUOTE=engineer_comp_geek]

If you wish to go the route of completely replacing the drive, then there’s no need to install ME first. You will want to install XP first
[/quote]

But I only bought the upgrade version. Don’t I have to install ME first?

[QUOTE=engineer_comp_geek]
To get all of your emails from one drive to the other, first export all of your emails to a file. If you have a memory stick or something to put this file on, then you can just transfer the file to the new drive this way.
[/quote]

Can I burn the file to a CD? I don’t have a memory stick.

[QUOTE=engineer_comp_geek]
Double check the BIOS before you get started. On a machine that old you are likely to run into the BIOS issue that Myglaren mentioned.
[/QUOTE]

How do I do that? I plan on only getting an 80 gig hard drive.

5

[QUOTE=WamBam]
But I only bought the upgrade version. Don’t I have to install ME first?
[/QUOTE]

I don’t think so. I think XP will ask you to insert the ME disk so it can verify it during the installation, though.

[QUOTE=WamBam]
Can I burn the file to a CD? I don’t have a memory stick.
[/QUOTE]

Yep.

[QUOTE=WamBam]
How do I do that? I plan on only getting an 80 gig hard drive.
[/QUOTE]

You can usually find out the info on the computer manufacturer’s web site. They also may have a BIOS flash available to allow your computer to handle a larger drive.

6

Here’s what you want to do. Download a disk imaging program. Norton Ghost is what I used last time I did this on windows. It copies the exact contents of the Hard Disk onto another, or to a file.
Install the new disk in the computer on the second IDE cable. Look on the drive to see if there is any printed information about Master/Slave or Autoselect. Arrange the jumpers (the tiny plastic things that are pushed down on top of metal pins) to the setting for Slave.

Boot up your computer and see if the BIOS recognizes it. It probably will if you have your BIOS to detect new disks. If not, reboot, and enter BIOS and have it manually detect new disks.

Enter Windows and run your Ghost program. Have it copy the entire contents of your old disk to the new one. Next, turn off your computer. Now you’ll want to reverse the Jumpers on both disks. The old one should now be set to slave, and the new one to master. If everything goes properly, you’ll see the smaller disk as D: in My Computer (if you only have one partition per disk)

Format the small disk. All of your data will be on the new one.

The reason for erasing it is because you’d want your data on the newer drive in case of failure, and it might be faster.

And if you decide to go the route of reinstalling XP (generally a good idea) you won’t need 98 first, and I’d highly recommend against it. All you do is get a normal XP setup going. It will stop though when it detects that there’s no previous version of windows. But all you have to do is put in your 98 install disc when it prompts you. All it needs to know is that you’ve actually bought a prior version.

In the end you’ll want them both in the PC. I don’t know much about linux these days, but I am pretty sure they have partitioning utilities that help. You can run it entirely from the old disk with no need to repartition the new one with all of your information.

7

Okay, one more question. Are hard drives on the market all pretty much compatible with older computers as far as connectors and cables go, or is there something I have to make sure of when shopping? Thanks.

8

[QUOTE=WamBam]
Okay, one more question. Are hard drives on the market all pretty much compatible with older computers as far as connectors and cables go, or is there something I have to make sure of when shopping? Thanks.
[/QUOTE]

Very glad you asked this question. The answer is a resounding NO! :slight_smile:

Newer disks use SATA. I don’t know if they have IDE on them or not, but with a machine that old, It’s almost definitely EIDE. You can tell the difference by opening up the box and checking the cables. IDE cables are thin, flat grey ribbons (about 2.3 inches wide) SATA connectors are much smaller. Less than an inch or so. I haven’t seen them though, but if it’s IDE it will be easy to tell. But it’s almost a definite that it’s going to be EIDE

Go on over to www.pricewatch.com and check the stuff there. It’s really cheap.

If you give the make and model of your computer, I can tell you what the maximum size disk you can buy is.

9

[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe]
Here’s what you want to do. Download a disk imaging program.
[/quote]

I’d rather not buy any software if I don’t have to. I’m kind of broke right now and I’m trying to keep this upgrade as low cost as possible.

Why would I need to copy the old hard drive contents to the new drive if you recommend a clean install any way?

[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe]
Newer disks use SATA. I don’t know if they have IDE on them or not, but with a machine that old, It’s almost definitely EIDE. You can tell the difference by opening up the box and checking the cables. IDE cables are thin, flat grey ribbons (about 2.3 inches wide) SATA connectors are much smaller. Less than an inch or so. I haven’t seen them though, but if it’s IDE it will be easy to tell. But it’s almost a definite that it’s going to be EIDE
[/quote]

Damn! Yeah, I have the thin, flat gray ribbons. The hard drive I was looking at was only $50 at Comp USA and it was SATA. I’ll check out the link you provided. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe]
If you give the make and model of your computer, I can tell you what the maximum size disk you can buy is.
[/quote]

Thanks. :slight_smile: I have a Gateway 4000711, System Serial Number: 0021996415

I have also added RAM since buying it for a total 0f 512mb.

10

[QUOTE=WamBam]
I’d rather not buy any software if I don’t have to. I’m kind of broke right now and I’m trying to keep this upgrade as low cost as possible.

Why would I need to copy the old hard drive contents to the new drive if you recommend a clean install any way?

Damn! Yeah, I have the thin, flat gray ribbons. The hard drive I was looking at was only $50 at Comp USA and it was SATA. I’ll check out the link you provided. Thanks.
Thanks. :slight_smile: I have a Gateway 4000711, System Serial Number: 0021996415

I have also added RAM since buying it for a total 0f 512mb.
[/QUOTE]

Okay I’m back!

After a bit of research I found out that it’s quite hard to actually find out that information I promised you! But here’s a few tidbits that I could gather. In 2002 the largest hard disk available at pricewatch was 160 GB. I say that’s a safe limit because if you go to this link:

http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/mydl.asp?tab=MY&os=Windows%20XP

You’ll see all the support downloads for your machine. Download the BIOS upgrade and follow the instructions. You may need a floppy for this. This BIOS was released in 2003, so I’d think it would handle 160 GB fine.

I recommended that you reinstall XP, that’s true, because I find that it usually runs cleaner after you do that. If I were you, I’d download all SP2 and have it on hand if you do that. You can dl SP2 here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

What you’ll want to do (should you decide for a clean install) is take that, and burn it onto a disk, Install XP, then SP2 before you ever connect to the internet. By this I mean physically disconnect the computer. Then go to windows update and get all of the updates before doing anything else.

For RAM you’ll need PC133 RAM Your motherboard can support up to 1.5 GB. I’d recommend at least one GB.

You can also get a new processor for about 30 bucks too. upgradable to 1.3 Ghz (Athlon Socket A)

Finally Norton Ghost is a demo. From what I remember, you can use it for free. That’s if you decide to go the route of not reinstalling windows.

Any more questions? I don’t mind, I like doing this kind of stuff.

11

Whoops! I forgot to answer one of your questions.

No you won’t need to clone your disk if you want a clean install. Just get those emails exported to a file and burn them on a disk with SP2 (Windows XP Service Pack 2). When you get up and running, just import them again in Outlook Express.
Edit:

Also I forgot about the money thing. Older RAM isn’t as cheap as newer RAM unfortunately. But you’ll be fine with 512 GB anyway

12

You guys are awesome! I’m glad you don’t mind answering questions, Merkwurdigliebe. I’m sure I’ll have more when I actually have a new hard drive in my hands. :slight_smile:

13

[QUOTE=WamBam]
You guys are awesome! I’m glad you don’t mind answering questions, Merkwurdigliebe. I’m sure I’ll have more when I actually have a new hard drive in my hands. :slight_smile:
[/QUOTE]

No problem man, what size are you going to get?

14

I don’t think I’ll need more than 80GB. I have a 20GB now with 5 GB of free space and I’d like to have a little more stored on it and play with Linux on a little of the free space.

15

[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe]
No you won’t need to clone your disk if you want a clean install.
[/QUOTE]

Merkwurdigliebe,

What does Norton Ghost do that ‘copy’ won’t do (assuming you are using Explorer and displaying your system files)? I know I have done this in the past with drives (but not with a boot drive, I don’t think). All the programs and stuff worked after copying, removing the old drive and changing the new drive letter to the old (although I found out you can’t copy pagefile.sys and have to turn that off first).

Is it a different procedure with the boot drive? I just bought a new computer (well MB/CPU/HDD) and want to copy my old small C: drive to a new large drive so I don’t have to reinstall all my programs and WinXP.

16

That’s a good question, and it might be possible to work around this. I knew how to do it with Dos-based windows programs, but the thing is that I’m not so sure about NT-based versions of Windows (like XP)

Firstly, you have to make the disk bootable. In the old DOS days, all you had to do was format the disk, with the option to make it bootable. This copied over some essential files that were needed to start up the system and hand it over to DOS.

But with XP it won’t work. First you can’t include XP system files to make it bootable. I guess you could try a few ways to work around this before you went for Ghost. I haven’t downloaded it but I remember it being free the time I used it. Free at least for individual use. I would imagine that today, they cripple it for people who want to clone a single installation over identical hardware.

But Ghost makes an identical copy of the disk, with all of the system files and startup files and partition flags.

What you might try is to boot into safe mode with command prompt and then copy all the files over to a newly formated HDD. Then you need to swap the new disk over to Master. At that point you’d want to use a DOS boot disk and run fdisk /mbr and then go back into fdisk again to make sure that your new one is bootable. That might work, but it’s difficult to remember, honestly as I haven’t tinkered with a PC in three years.

17

Upon rereading that last post, I just realized that you won’t be able to do what you’re trying anyway. Well, unless you’re really lucky. Switching the entire hardaware will almost certainly make your copy of windows not work, because there are usually motherboard drivers that would need to be changed. I got lucky once when I bought a similar motherboard to my old system. Apparently my drivers worked for the new one. But unless you’re really lucky it won’t work anyway.

But if you want to use ghost, go to www.oldversion.com It is a 15 day trial. You can find a copy here: Download Old Versions of Norton Ghost for Windows - OldVersion.com

Great little utility to save you the headache

18

Thanks for the tips. I didn’t realize the system/boot files wouldn’t copy, I’ll give ghost a shot.

Years ago (last time I upgraded my MB/CPU) I took the old HD and put it in the new machine. Windows fought me but I prevailed (it took a call to Microsoft to ‘reactivate’ XP or something like that)

I figure worst case, it won’t reboot and I have to start from scratch (clean disk) and reinstall WinXP. Last time I did this (had my C: HD crash a year or so ago) it took days/weeks just to reinstall XP, as I have an early version and it needs to downlaod and reinstall all the service packs and upgrades. I was hoping to avoid this (reinstalling all my programs is a pain, but do-able if I have to).

Any other tips/advice (anyone has) to make this go smoother?

19

[QUOTE=Fear the Turtle]
I figure worst case, it won’t reboot and I have to start from scratch (clean disk) and reinstall WinXP. Last time I did this (had my C: HD crash a year or so ago) it took days/weeks just to reinstall XP, as I have an early version and it needs to downlaod and reinstall all the service packs and upgrades. I was hoping to avoid this (reinstalling all my programs is a pain, but do-able if I have to).
[/QUOTE]
If you end up doing a clean install, do yourself a favour and download Service Pack 2 and all of the updates first and burn them to CD.

You can get SP2 from the “download and deploy SP2 to multiple computers” link on the MS SP2 page. And You can get all of the MS security updates and patches conveniently packaged for offline installation at Autopatcher.com. This way I can make sure I have the latest updates before I even plug in the network card.

20

Hodge,

Thanks for the links. I’ve been scouring the web for ‘How to clone a HD for a new HW config’ and one of the things I saw mentioned was doing a “Repair” with XP. Last time I tried this with my XP CD (some dlls got corrupted) it said I couldn’t becuase my current OS was newer than the the CD version (due to SP2, I assume). Any idea if either of those sites has the potential to create the ‘Repair’ XP utility?